Radicle Emergence as Seed Vigour Test Estimates Seedling Quality of Hybrid Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Cultivars in Low Temperature and Salt Stress Conditions

This work was conducted on the use of the RE (radicle emergence) test to estimate the seedling emergence (SE) and quality (seedling shoot weight (SSW), seedling root weight (SRW) and seedling height (SH)) of twelve hybrid cucumber seed lots with high germination (>95%) at low temperature conditions, high salt conditions and a combination of the two. The percentages of RE, which is a 2 mm radicle protrusion at 25 degrees C in the dark, were counted between 18 h and 32 h. The seeds were sown in peat moss in trays and kept at 15 degrees C (low temperature stress), or salty water was applied as 100 mM NaCl at 25 degrees C (salt stress) for three days, and both were applied in a combined-stress environment. Seedling emergence and quality parameters were reduced by both stress environments and their combination. SE, SSW, SRW and SH values ranged between: 91-100%, 614-844 mg, 102-143 mg, 6.8-8.8 cm at low temperature; 90-98%, 598-904 mg, 101-154 mg, 6.5-7.8 cm at salt stress; and 76-92%, 464-608 mg, 97-133 mg, 5.8-6.9 cm at their combination. The RE values with great differences seen among the lots (20-28 h) were regressed with seedling emergence and quality values. RE 24 h had the highest R-2 and significant values in all stress environments as R-2 = 0.596-0.858, p < 0.05-0.001 at low temperature; R-2 = 0.620-0.827, p < 0.05-0.001 with salt; and R-2 = 0.686-0.842, p < 0.05-0.001 with combined stresses. We concluded that RE as a vigour test can be used successfully to estimate the seedling quality of highly germinating hybrid cucumber seed lots. Use of the RE test in hybrid cucumber seeds and its influence on high-quality seedling production were discussed.

Automated summary

This study investigated the use of the RE (radicle emergence) test to estimate the seedling emergence and quality of hybrid cucumber seeds under low temperature conditions, high salt conditions, and a combination of the two. The results showed that both stress environments and their combination reduced seedling emergence and quality. The RE values were significantly correlated with seedling emergence and quality, with the RE 24 h showing the highest correlation coefficient.